Separate Procedure Billing

Question:

The surgeon performed an open colectomy and found a tear in the mesentery close to the incision, 44850 Suture of mesentery is listed as a “separate procedure”, does that mean we can bill for it separately in addition to the colectomy?

Answer:

No, codes designated as a “separate procedure” are intended to identify procedures that are only reported if they are the only procedure performed in that anatomic area. When performed with a more comprehensive procedure in the same anatomic area, only the more comprehensive procedure is reported. In your example, only the colectomy would be reported.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 07/28/22.